US3805426A - Index tabs - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
  • B42F19/00—File cards

Definitions

• Tab indexing systems have used pre-printed two-digit tabs in sets of ten strips of 10 tabs each comprising one hundred different tabs from through 99 for terminal digit filing and color coded with one of different colors for each strip or using only five colors, one for each of the first five strips having 00 through 49 printed in a split face, and the same five colors respectively for the second five strips having 50 through 99 printed in a solid reverse face.
• the present invention eliminates from 50 to 70 percent of such waste in any location where it is desired to employ terminal digit filing and constant or frequent repeats of the same terminal digits are received from a central computer or skip numbers are encountered. It comprises strips of two-digit color coded numerical indexing tabs with each strip having a backing or release paper and an overlying strip of transparent film with a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on its under surface mounted on the backing strip and cut transversely to define ten individually separable tabs color coded by reverse printing the same first digit on each with ink of the same color and leaving a blank space on each tab directly adjacent that first digit, and the overlying upper strip having a write-on uper surface coterminous with the blank spaces to enable selective application in each blank space during use, as by pen, pencil or typing, of any desired digit for display with the adjacent said first digit.
• a complete set may comprise ten such strips, each with a different pre-printed first digit and constructed to enable application thereto during use of any desired second digit, whereby one hundred indexing tabs are provided as in the prior pre-printed two-digit sets, but all of the tabsof the present set may be used in any terminal digit filing system to eliminate the waste described above as encountered in multiple locations employing a central computer and any skip number installation.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the first of a set of ten strips of indexing tabs embodying the invention
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sixth strip of the set which includes that of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded end view, as seen from the right of FIG. 1, showing the lateral relationship of the different laminates of the strip on an enlarged scale;
• FIG. 4 is a front elevational view 'of two file cards with indexing tabs of this invention attached.
• FIG. 5 is a top view of three file cards to illustrate the three dimensional identification effected.
• FIG. 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT shown in FIG. 3 as comprising an overlying strip or top laminate of transparent film 13 having a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on its lower surface.
• An intermediate or legend laminate 14 of printable paper or film, preferably opaque, and with pressure-sensitive adhesive on its lower surface is adhered to the lower surface of the top laminate 13.
• This legned laminate 14 is narrower than the overlying strip 13 so that the edge portions or longitudinal margins. of the latter extend beyond it to provide adhesive-coated skirt portions 15 for attaching the index tabs to the opposed surfaces of a receiving sheet, such as the file cards 16 of FIG. 4.
• the legend laminate be slit longitudinallyat 17 during forming of the strips 11, 12, as described in,U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,070,482, to pres ent this intermediate laminate as two parallel strips, although a score line may be employed instead of the slit 17 to define a fold line.
• a filler laminate 18 of paper or film is adhered to the lower surface of the legend laminate 14 to serve asa stiffener, having its outer edge disposed adjacent one outer edge of the legend laminate 14 to expose the one skirt portion 15 and its inner edge adjacent the longitudinal center line of the legend laminate or the slit 17 to define a fold line which will be effective even if the legend laminate is not slit as at 17.
• the tabs 22 are color coded by reverse printing in colored ink 23, preferably on the upper surface of the legend laminate 14, to outline a first digit 24 and leave a blank space 25 on each tab directly adjacent that first digit, and the overlying strip 13 is provided with a write-on upper surface 26 coterminous with the blank spaces 25.
• This write-on upper surface 26 is a matte finish on the film, or any finish which readily will receive and retain pen, pencil or typed markings.
• the upper surface 26 also may be a reverse ink printed or screened surface on a single ply of transparent film.
• each is split printed with a different colored ink 23 and to display a different first digit 24 on all of its tabs 22, from 0through 4.
• the first split strip 11 of the set displays as the first digit 24 on each tab 22.
• the second five strips 12 of a set of ten strips also are printed in the same colors, each in a different colored ink 23 and to display a different first digit 24 on all of its tabs 22, from through 9.
• the sixth strip of the set which is the first strip 12
• the reverse printing with the colored ink 23 on each of the second five strips 12 is solid or extended laterally of the tabs 22 to outline the blank spaces 25.
• the reverse printing with the colored ink 23 on each strip 11 and 12 is extended laterally thereof over the fold line, as defined by the slit 17 for example, sufficiently to present a marginal portion 27 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) that will be displayed on the fold line from above and on the reverse side of the receiving sheet after the tab is mounted thereon.
• the slit 17 is not employed, it is preferable that flexible ink be used when the printing is extended over the fold line.
• terminal digit filing of cards 16 containing desired information is to be effected under 33 and 89.
• the user applies with pen, pencil or typewrittcr to the write-on surface 26 of the blank space 25 on one of the tabs 22 of the fourth strip 11 of the set having 3" as the pre-printed first digit 24, a second or added digit 28 (FIG. 4), in this instance 3.
• That tab 22 with the terminal digits 24, 28 of 33 then is removed from its release paper strip 19 and applied to the edge of the appropriate file card 16 as shown in FIG. 4.
• This application may be accomplished most easily by placing the outer edge of the filler laminate 18 of the inscribed tab 22 along and against the upper edge of the card 16, with the exposed under surface of the adjacent skirt portion facing the reverse side of the card, and pressing that skirt portion into contact with the card.
• the free end of the tab 22 then is folded over the upper or originally inner edge of the filler laminate 18 and the other skirt portion 15 pressed against and adhered to the obverse side of the card.
• the same procedure then is followed for the card to be filed under the terminal digits 89 by inscribing 9 as a second digit 28 on one of the tabs 22 of the ninth strip or fourth strip 12 of the set having 8" as the preprinted first digit 24, and applying that tab to the proper card 16, which is shown in FIG. 4 as being completed and filed behind the first card 16 that has its tab 22 displaying 33.”
• any tab 22 on its file card 16 laterally of the card is determined by the second or terminal digit 28, there being ten possible proper positions, from that for 0 at the left end to that for 9 at right end. As shown in FIG. 4, such tab positions are identified by indicia in the form of lines 29 and numerals 30 inscribed along the upper marginal portion of the file cards 16. Thus, the tab 22 displaying 33" is mounted in the 3" or fourth position, and that bearing 89 in the 9 or tenth such position.
• the color coding employs only five different colors for reverse printing or screening the first or penultimate digits 24 as follows:
• a strip of 10 two-digit color coded numerical indexing tabs comprising a backing strip of release paper, an overlying strip of transparent film having a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on its under surface mounted on said backing strip and cut transversely to' define ten individually separable tabs, said tabs being color coded by reverse printing the same first digit on each with ink of the same color and leaving a blank space on each tab directly adjacent said first digit, and said overlying strip having a write-on upper surface coterminous with said blank spaces to enable selective application in each said blank space during use of any desired digit for display with the adjacent said first digit.
• each said strip comprising a backing strip of release paper, an overlying strip of transparent film having a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on its under surface mounted on said backing strip and cut transversely to define l individually separable tabs, said tabs being color coded by reverse printing the same first digit on each with ink of the same color and leaving a blank space on each tab directly adjacent said first digit, and said overlying strip having a write-on upper surface coterminous with said blank spaces to enable selective application in each said blank space during use of any desired digit for display with the adjacent said first digit.

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Abstract

Description

Claims (5)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23331402

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (25)

Citations (5)

• 1973
  • 1973-03-12 US US00339984A patent/US3805426A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1974
  • 1974-02-05 CA CA191,806A patent/CA1035655A/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (5)

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